Chadian herders to benefit from UN funding for water projects

8 February 2010  The United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty has granted Chad $19.5 million to finance a water project for nomadic herders in the arid sub-Saharan Sahel region.

The impoverished African country has abundant pastoral resources but these are under-used because of the scarcity of water delivery systems, the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said in a news release issued on Friday.

“The project will improve pastoral water infrastructure and access to water for nomadic herders,” IFAD said, noting that it would benefit several Chadian programmes, such as poverty reduction and agricultural development.

IFAD is currently financing six projects in Chad for a total investment of $74 million.